In 2017, DC Comics announced a new imprint to publish original one-shots, graphic novels, and a few reprints targeting young readers in the hope to attract an audience that wasn’t familiar with DC in the first place. The imprint was first named DC Ink, with Mera: Tidebreaker as the first title published.
But in a classic DC move, it didn’t take long for the company to relaunch. One year after the official launch of DC Ink, DC Comics made a few changes. It was mostly tied to a simple internal reorganization, shuttering previous imprint lines in favor of new imprint lines defined by age. DC Zoom was renamed DC Kids (ages 8-12) and Vertigo became DC Black Label (17+).
DC Ink was replaced by DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults with the goal to present DC characters with stories outside of the main continuity, directed at readers aged 13 and older. They explore a large array of characters, heroes, anti-heroes, and villains.
Below you’ll find a list of the stories published in the DC Comics Young Adult Graphic Novels line, with the Teen Titans, Batgirl, Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing and more…
DC Comics Young Adult Graphic Novels Reading Guide
Most of the following graphic novels are standalone works and can be read in any order, with the exception of two series: Teen Titans and House of El.
Teen Titans young adult graphic novels
Teen Titans is a graphic novels series part of the DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults imprint. All the following titles are created by writer Kami Garcia and artist Gabriel Picolo and tell the stories of the Teen Titans before they were superheroes.
- Teen Titans: Raven
- Teen Titans: Beast Boy
- Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven
- Teen Titans: Robin
- Teen Titans: Starfire (coming soon)
House of El young adult graphic novels
This graphic novel trilogy written by Claudia Gray and illustrated by Eric Zawadzki is not about Clark Kent but tells the story of two Kryptonian teenagers on opposite sides during the final days of Krypton.
- House of El Book One: The Shadow Threat
- House of El Book Two: The Enemy Delusion
- House of El Book Three: The Treacherous Hope
All the other One-shots in the DC Comics Young Adult Graphic Novels line
- Mera: Tidebreaker
Written by Danielle Paige and illustrated by Stephen Byrne - Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale
Written by Lauren Myracle and illustrated by Isaac Goodhart - Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass
Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Steve Pugh - Batman: Nightwalker
Originally a novel part of DC Icons. Written by Stuart Moore and Marie Lu and illustrated by Chris Wildgoose - Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Originally a novel part of DC Icons. Written by Louise Simonson and Leigh Bardugo and illustrated by Kit Seaton - Shadow of the Batgirl
Written by Sarah Kuhn and illustrated by Nicole Goux - The Oracle Code
Written by Marieke Nijkamp and illustrated by Manuel Preitano - Gotham High
Written by Melissa de la Cruz and illustrated by Thomas Pitilli - The Lost Carnival: A Dick Grayson Graphic Novel
Written by Michael Moreci and illustrated by Sas Milledge - Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed
Written by Laurie Halse Anderson and illustrated by Leila del Duca - You Brought Me The Ocean
Written by Alex Sánchez and illustrated by Jul Maroh - Swamp Thing: Twin Branches
Written by Maggie Stiefvater and illustrated by Morgan Beem - Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story
Written by Lauren Myracle and illustrated by Isaac Goodhart - Nubia: Real One
Written by L.L. McKinney and illustrated by Robyn Smith - Catwoman: Soulstealer
Originally a novel part of DC Icons. Written by Sarah J. Maas and Louise Simonson and illustrated by Samantha Dodge
- Poison Ivy: Thorns
Written by Samantha Dodge and illustrated by Sara Kipin - I Am Not Starfire
Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Yoshi Yoshitani - Whistle: A New Gotham City Hero
Written by E. Lockhart and illustrated by Manuel Preitano - Unearthed: A Jessica Cruz Story
Written by Lilliam Rivera and illustrated by Steph C. - Wonderful Women of the World
From various writers and illustrators - Mister Miracle: The Great Escape
Written by Varian Johnson and illustrated by Daniel Isles - Galaxy: The Prettiest Star
Written by Jadzia Axelrod and illustrated by Cait Zellers - Constantine: Distorted Illusions
Written by Kami Garcia and illustrated by Isaac Goodhart - Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend
Written by Alys Arden and illustrated by Jacquelin De Leon - Girl Taking Over: A Lois Lane Story
Written by Sarah Kuhn and illustrated by Arielle Jovellanos - Static: Up All Night
Written by Lamar Giles and illustrated by Paris Alleyne - More Coming Soon…
More reading
If you want to continue to read more DC stories, the following are some suggestions for you!
The two following titles have actually been reprinted in DC Comics Young Adult Graphic Novels imprint in 2020, but were not originally published as part of this line (it’s still out of the main continuity):
- Superman Smashes the Klan
Written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Gurihiru - Supergirl: Being Super
Written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Joëlle Jones
You can also:
- Check out our DC Icons Reading Guide, a list of DC Young adult novels also out of the main continuity
- If you want to know more about the Teen Titans, we have a complete reading order for the team created in 1964!